Dutch BA
Become fluent in Dutch through this course that brings together intensive language learning with cultural studies. As well as teaching core language skills, the Dutch BA enables you to choose from a range of modules spanning from film to philosophy. You’ll graduate ready to use this globally relevant language in many careers, and graduates from the School of European Languages, Culture and Society may go on to work in education, publishing, academia and more.
Key information
Entry requirements
- Grades
- ABB
- Subjects
- Foreign language preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4
Contextual offer
- Grades
- BBC
- Subjects
- Foreign language preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4
At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- Points
- 34
- Subjects
- A total of 16 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. Foreign language preferred.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 30
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5. Foreign language preferred.
The English language level for this programme is: Level 4
Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education.
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who do not have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
About this course
Over recent decades, our world has become more interdependent. With these deeper connections comes an enhanced need for enlightened citizenship. The Dutch-speaking nations of Belgium and the Netherlands belong to advanced manufacturing and trading areas and are among Britain’s largest trading partners. With the Netherlands being the UK’s third largest trading partner and Belgium eighth*. They house the headquarters of numerous multinational companies, the political heart of the European Union and NATO.
Our degree in Dutch offers expert teaching and learning in both language acquisition and intercultural contexts that will equip students to thrive in today’s global society. Over the four years, you will deepen your knowledge of the Dutch language while also developing valuable skills in cultural literacy and critical thinking.
In Years 1, 2 and your final year, you will take language modules in Dutch, as well as cultural modules covering a range of topics that draw on literature, film, history, and linguistics, from an interdisciplinary perspective.
You will spend the third year of your studies abroad in a country where Dutch is spoken. You may spend the year studying at a partner university or on an approved work placement. Students start learning Dutch from beginner level and graduate as fluent and interculturally competent speakers of this global language. Graduates with a good command of Dutch are still rare, thus learning Dutch opens up unique career opportunities across Europe and beyond.
*UK Government Department for Business & Trade: Trade and Investment Factsheets for Belgium and the Netherlands, 2024 ONS data.
We seek to select candidates who, in addition to academic achievement, have the motivation and passion for language learning, for inter-cultural inquiry, and who have a deep commitment to developing and finessing their language proficiency to an advanced level.
Course structure
In Year 1 and 2, many of the modules you take are compulsory Dutch modules (usually 60-75 credits). These modules provide an introduction to Dutch Studies and help establish a broad foundation in Dutch language and culture. You will also take interdisciplinary SELCS modules which develop analytical skills and cultural competences across SELCS subject and language areas.
You will spend the third year of your studies abroad in a country where Dutch is spoken. You will achieve the same linguistic competence regardless of whether you start a language from scratch or have previous knowledge of it.
In your final year, you take one compulsory advanced language and culture module (30 credits), and have more flexibility to pursue optional modules of your interest. A final-year research project module is available should students wish to undertake a self-initiated project.
We are keen to ensure that students feel part of a community at UCL and therefore offer course-specific core modules in Year 1 that students take together with their respective cohort. These offer a broad sense of their chosen discipline and an opportunity to share learning experiences. They also support students to make informed choices for their future years of study to carve out a degree pathway that suits them.
Modules
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Please note that the list of compulsory modules given here is indicative. Up to 10 optional modules per year are displayed for this course: this may not be the full range of optional modules available for selection. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available. For more detail regarding module availability, please contact the department.
Compulsory modules
- An Introduction to Dutch Language and Culture (DUTC0001)
- Introduction to Dutch Studies 1 (DUTC0032)
- Introduction to Dutch Studies 2 (DUTC0033)
- Understanding History: Facts, Interpretations, Stories (ELCS0003)
- Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics (ELCS0004)
- Theories and Methods in Film and Media Studies (ELCS0079)
- Mediatising Dissent (ELCS0080)
Compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
- At the Crossroads of Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in the 20th and 21st Centuries (DUTC0006)
- The Contemporary in Dutch Literature (DUTC0010)
- Project in Dutch (DUTC0017)
- Advanced Translation (DUTC0026)
Your language classes focus on developing the active skills of speaking, listening, writing and reading through a variety of methods and media. Teaching consists of a combination of lectures, classes, seminars, and presentations, as well as undertaking web-based study and group work.
Small-group tutorials, group work and student-led activities are an important element of many modules. Ongoing feedback is given to help you improve your written work.
The language elements may vary depending on the degree and your starting proficiency. On average they will comprise of four taught hours a week for basic language in Year 1, four hours a week for intermediate language in Year 2, and two hours a week for advanced language in the final year. A significant portion of your work will take place in guided independent study.
Modules are assessed by a mixture of written examinations, essays and other forms of coursework. Language modules will also include an oral examination. Some group work may be assessed. In your final year, you may have the option to undertake a research essay on a topic chosen by you with guidance from your tutor.
Typical contact hours vary between 8–12 hours per week, depending on the year of study and module choice, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based activities and e-learning activities. You will also undertake independent study (25–30 hours per week) by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions in class. There is minimal teaching in Term 3, which focuses on examinations and assessment. Contact hours may vary during the year abroad in the third year of your studies, depending on the partner university or work placement.
The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
| Study mode | UK fee (2026/27) | Overseas fee (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | £9,790 | £32,000 |
UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases. Fees for 2027/28 entry will be published in August 2026.
International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.
International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
There are no course-specific costs for this course apart from those associated with study abroad. Studying abroad may cost between £200 – £1,000 per month depending on where you choose to study. The cost of studying abroad can be difficult to predict as it will depend on your priorities and choices. There is more information available on the UCL Study Abroad website.
For in-person teaching, UCL's main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2026. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Why study this course at UCL?
No previous knowledge of Dutch is required, as you will receive intensive language training in the first two years if you start the subject from beginner level. You may also start the course as a more advanced speaker of Dutch.
A year spent abroad will give you the chance to attend a university or work overseas. During this time, you will finesse your language skills and gain valuable experience, which will enhance future learning as well as career prospects.
Housed at a global top ten university for the arts and humanities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 by subject), you will study in a small, friendly department. Our high staff to student ratio is unusual in higher education.
You will have access to one of the most comprehensive Dutch libraries in the English-speaking world, including our collection of Dutch and Belgian films and multimedia learning resources.
Various other UCL departments, including History, History of Art and Geography, have academic staff with highly specialised expertise covering the Low Countries both the Netherlands and Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium and parts of the world in which Dutch used to, or continues to, play a role, including the Dutch Caribbean, South-East Asia and parts of Africa and the Americas.
Discover Uni
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What this course will give you
There are many career opportunities for UCL’s modern language graduates. We seek to embed within our teaching the acquisition of transferable skills as well as linguistic and cultural knowledge.
Our students hone advanced skills in languages, critical reasoning, independent thinking and application of theoretical concepts, all of which put you in good stead to find employment in organisations within the UK or abroad. Our graduates can be found in careers that cross international boundaries and involve strong communication skills in other languages.
Popular career paths for modern language graduates include accountancy and financial services (5.2%), teaching and education (11.2%), publishing, journalism or translation (8%), hospitality, leisure and tourism (7%), PR, advertising, marketing (4.5%), performance and creative arts (4.2%) and media (7%).
Employers of our graduates include KPMG, PwC, JP Morgan, Bloomberg, Accenture, BBC, The Fairtrade Foundation, Unitary AI, Lonely Planet, L’Oreal, Goldman Sachs, Teach First, and UK Government.
Some graduates pursue careers that make special use of their language skills, including translating, interpreting and teaching, while others continue with postgraduate or other study (17.1%) or academic research and HE (4.9%).*
*Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017–2023 cohorts.
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Register your interest in undergraduate study and become part of the UCL community.
Register nowHow to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Our admissions process aims to assess your linguistic abilities and attainments as well as cultural awareness and intellectual potential. We may interview candidates by telephone.
If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation make you well-suited to our degree and you receive an offer, you will be invited to a Post- Offer Open Day. There, you can gain insight into the sort of teaching we offer and life in the department.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Apply for this course
You are applying for the Dutch BA course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.Course starts: September 2027
UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.
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School of European Languages, Culture and Society
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